Joshua vs Fury: Where does AJ’s ‘messy’ win in Saudi Arabia put the heavyweight blockbuster?

After such a chaotic night, it’s easy to focus on the flaws and forget the big picture. Joshua was coming back from one of the darkest periods of his life and carrying a heavy emotional load into the ring.

After his hand was raised, he struggled to pass the interview. His voice cracks as he talks about his two friends and the effect their loss has had on him.

“Boxing saved him once and he needs boxing to get through this. That camp allowed him to focus his mind while going through so much grief and pain,” promoter Eddie Hearn said.

“You don’t know what he’s going through in that camp because he doesn’t talk about it.”

Whatever happens next, his place in British boxing history is already secure. An Olympic gold medalist, two-time heavyweight champion and one of the biggest sports stars this country has ever produced.

He took boxing to where British fighters used to be. He has filled stadiums, headlined international events and become a household name beyond the sport.

But on the rebuild, Joshua and stablemate Oleksandr Usyk spoke of their ambitions to become the undisputed heavyweight champion.

After Saudi Saturday night, the reality is that even reclaiming world honor is a tough ask.

Joshua has always talked about a legacy, and after overcoming one of the toughest times in his life and pulling off an amazing comeback victory, there will be something fitting to go with it.

The risk for older fighters is one more night of chasing. Boxing history is littered with champions who have held that one fight for a long time.

But again, Fury-Joshua is not one more fight. is it. of fighting. One that loomed over their careers for the best part of a decade.